Top Tips to Developing Leadership Presence

It feels as if every workplace today is adjusting their hiring process and recruitment to develop an environment that is more diverse and inclusive. This means that there are often employees of a wide range of backgrounds, skill levels, genders, and many other different factors. I think we can all agree that diversity in the workplace can be incredibly beneficial because it enables every team member to bring a unique perspective and different viewpoints to the table.

The only problem with this diversity in the workplace is that occasionally some of the under-represented or minority groups will feel that their voice is not as important or prominent in the conversation. To ensure that your voice is heard no matter the circumstance or your background, it is important to develop your leadership presence, which is the ability to step foot into a room and command the attention of coworkers and even high executives. According to an article from Entrepreneur, there are certain characteristics that will aid people in succeeding at developing this leadership presence. Whether it is someone that is entering the workplace for the first time, someone that is of a different race, religion, sexual orientation, or whatever else it may be, everyone can give these quick tips a try if they would like to develop a leadership presence, or even just become a stronger leader.

One of these characteristics is confidence, which is a struggle that many people have. To combat the self-confidence issue, it is best to set up achievable wins that will give you the feeling that you have accomplished something, no matter how small. Taking that a step farther, you must also become aware of the lack of confidence and continuously remind yourself that every time you feel that you have failed, that it is merely an opportunity to learn and try again.

In addition to this inner self-confidence is the need to feel comfortable in your own skin. This means you show others that you are proud of who you are, and you can stand up for what you believe in. Even in those moments when you don’t feel like the most confident person in the room, your mindset must push to overcome your fear so you can stand strong. Some ways that you can portray confidence is through body language with some simple tips such as not fidgeting, making eye contact, standing up straight, or using firm handshakes.

Another way to create leadership presence is by establishing a voice that is both unique and powerful. To accomplish this, ensure that you are not using language that undermines your leadership such as “I’m sorry” or “Maybe we can do the project this way.” Rather, only apologize when it is necessary and eliminate any doubt in the message you are delivering. Lastly, make sure you are practicing out loud, either in front of a mirror or in front of trusted friends and family.

Start by accomplishing some of these three small tasks every day and you will soon be walking into any room and commanding the attention and respect you deserve!